literature

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂leyH-
2. Old Latinleitera
3. Latinlīterader.?
4. Proto-Hellenic*dipʰtʰérā?
5. Ancient Greekδιφθέρᾱ (diphthérā)
6. Etruscan[Term?]bor.?
7. Latinlittera
8. Latinlitterātūra
9. Old Frenchlittérature
10. Middle Englishliterature
11. English todayliterature

From Middle English literature, from Old French littérature, from Latin literatura or litteratura, from littera (“letter”), from Etruscan, from Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā, “tablet”). Displaced native Old English bōccræft, literally "book + -craft", see Modern English bookcraft.